"Conspiracy" 「猛女姦謀 Mōjo kanbō」 is the nineteenth episode of Basilisk.
Summary[]
Koshirō Chikuma hears Akeginu voice, which informs him that Hyōma Muroga stood up dying behind him. Realizing this, Koshirō also realizes how fearsome Hyōma was. Akeginu's voice then tells Koshirō that Saemon Kisaragi came in the inn and slowly and mercilessly tortured Oboro to her death. Koshirō breaks in anger and wonders what Akeginu was doing while that happened and she explains she was tied up, but now managed to get free, and she only stayed alive, so she could tell Tenzen and Koshirō. She then hugs Koshirō and starts asking him to kill her. As the Iga had lost, she wants they to embrace death together, and kiss him. As he thinks of Oboro, he falls down dead from Kagerō's technique as Saemon (disguised as Tenzen Yakushiji) and Gennosuke Kōga appears from behind.
Following the hawk, Akeginu and Oboro find the dead Koshirō that sent her to mourn as Gennosuke and the others watch from nearby. Akeginu then sees the dead body of Hyōma and believes he and Koshirō had killed each other. In a fit of rage, Akeginu starts stabbing Hyōma's body while Oboro tries to tell her to stop. Oboro explains she was disgusted when Tenzen put Gyōbu Kasumi's body on display. She also tells Akeginu that Hyōma was skilled enough to kill Koshirō before he dies and what she does is insulting to Koshirō. Oboro wonders if Tenzen is also dead, but Akeginu tells her that's impossible. Gennosuke planned to attack the Iga, but as Saemon sees people approaching, he stops them.
Kyōhachirō Hattori asks his father if he heard about Ofuku secretly leaving and that she secretly intends to participate in the ninja war, but Masahiro tells him to leave her. Akeginu buries Koshirō, but then see people approach who mistaken them for bandits. She explains they are on their way to Sunpu to meet the retired Shogun and wonder who they are, but the men don't believe Akeginu's words and she again explains they are from Iga Tsubagakure. Hearing this, Ofuku comes out and introduces herself before guessing they were Akeginu and Oboro. Ofuku wonders who the dead man is and Akeginu explains its Hyōma from Kōga Manjidani, which excites Ofuku. She then wonders where the remaining Iga members are and Akeginu says they are dead. Ofuku can't believe it as only a few days had passed since the pact was nullified. Oboro asks if Ofuku can explain what Ofuku means by that they are fighting for Takechiyo and Ofuku is surprised they are fighting without even knowing why and then proceeds to explain.
Masahiro explains he is leaving Ofuku alone, to prevent unnecessary trouble. Ofuku used to be the second wife of Sadonokami Inaba, but as she learned her husband had a child from a mistress, she invited the mother and the child while Inaba was away and stabbed both of them to death and then left like nothing had happened. Masahiro believes its best to leave her, as getting in her way, will make her more ferocious and make more trouble. Ofuku invites Oboro and Akeginu to go together with her to Sunpu and for Takechiyo's sake, she can't let them die. Oboro agrees and that way she will meet the retired Shogun and Hattori and even if it costs her life, she may reinstate the anti-war pact. Gennosuke and the rest overheard everything and now also knew the war was to determine the successor of Tokugawa.
Meanwhile, the Yakushiji Symbiote starts to heal and revive Tenzen.